Late 19th Century Moser Turquoise Blue Glass Enameled Butterfly Bowl

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Exceptional late 19th-century Moser Bohemian art glass bowl in luminous turquoise-blue glass, richly decorated with polychrome enamel and extensive gilding.
… Read more Exceptional late 19th-century Moser Bohemian art glass bowl in luminous turquoise-blue glass, richly decorated with polychrome enamel and extensive gilding.
The surface is covered with an intricate network of scrolling gilt vines and green leaves interspersed with brilliantly colored stylized flowers, butterflies, and smaller insects. The dense, jewel-like decoration reflects the Persian-influenced ornamental vocabulary found in Moser's elaborate enameled glass of the period. Closely related Moser examples in aqua-blue glass are documented with the same combination of scrolling gold foliage, colorful flowers, and insects.

Particularly striking is the bowl's sculptural form: one side of the rim has been dramatically
folded inward and upward while the remainder spreads into a broad shallow dish. Forming this asymmetrical contour in hot glass while maintaining the thin walls and smooth flowing profile required considerable control, after which the extensive enamel and gilt decoration was applied by hand.

Founded by Ludwig Moser in Karlsbad, Bohemia, in 1857, Moser became renowned for exceptionally refined colored glass embellished with enamel, engraving, and precious-metal decoration. Surviving period examples demonstrate the firm's particularly imaginative use of insects and stylized botanical ornament during the late 19th century.

A gilt number 815, appears on the underside.
Dimensions: 6.25" W × 5.75" D × approx. 1.75" H
Date: Circa 1885–1895
Origin: Karlsbad, Bohemia See less